Fluid container parts including a latch handle and rib

ABSTRACT

A part of a fluid container includes a wall and a latch handle connected to the wall through a live hinge. The latch handle slants away from the wall. A rib spans over the hinge and is connected to the latch handle and the wall.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a U.S. National Stage Application of and claimspriority to International Patent Application No. PCT/US2013/049886,filed on Jul. 10, 2013, and entitled “FLUID CONTAINER PARTS INCLUDING ALATCH HANDLE AND RIB,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

Some fluid containers are designed to be inserted and latched to areceiving bay of a fluid dispensing device. Some fluid containers areprovided with latch features to facilitate latching to the bay.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustration, certain examples constructed inaccordance with this disclosure will now be described with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a fluid container in side view;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a fluid container in top view;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example scenario of an example fluid containerduring storage in a packaging;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a part of the fluid container of FIGS.1 to 3 in side view;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a part of a fluid container part inperspective view;

FIG. 6 illustrates the example part of FIG. 5 in top view;

FIG. 7 illustrates the example part of FIGS. 5 and 6 in side view;

FIG. 8 illustrates another example of a fluid container part inperspective view;

FIG. 9 illustrates the example part of FIG. 8 in top view; and

FIG. 10 illustrates the example part of FIGS. 8 and 9 in side view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings. The examples in the description and drawingsshould be considered illustrative and are not intended as limiting tothe specific example or element described. Multiple examples can bederived from the following description and drawings throughmodification, combination or variation of certain elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a fluid container 1 in side view. FIG.2 illustrates the example fluid container 1 in top view. The fluidcontainer 1 includes walls 2-7 that enclose an inner volume 10. Theinner volume 10 includes fluid such as a liquid such as ink. The innervolume 10 may include a fluid holding device and/or a back pressuredevice such as a capillary medium. For example the fluid container 1includes a bottom wall 2, a front wall 3, a top wall 4, a back wall 5and two side walls 6, 7 for example at approximately straight angleswith respect to each other. For example the fluid container 1 and/oreach of its outer walls 2-7 have a substantially rectangular shape sothat the container 1 has a substantially cuboid shape. For example thefluid container 1 has a relatively thin shape so that the side walls 6,7 have larger surfaces than the other walls 2-5 that are along thenarrower side of the container 1.

For example a fluidic interconnect feature or nozzle is provided in ornear the bottom wall 2 to interconnect the fluid container 1 with areceiving bay of a host dispensing device for supplying fluid out of theinner volume 10 to the fluid dispensing device. For example the fluidcontainer 1 is an inkjet cartridge and the host dispensing device is aninkjet printer, the printhead die being an inkjet printhead die. Incertain examples the fluid container 1 includes a printhead die that isconnected to the inner volume 10 to directly dispense fluid.

The fluid container 1 includes a latch handle 8. For example the latchhandle 8 is to lock the fluid container 1 to the receiving bay of thehost dispensing device. For example the latch handle 8 is connected toone of the container walls 2-7, in the current example the back wall 5.

In one example a length LL of the latch handle 8 is more than 50% of theheight HW of the back wall 5. For example the length LL of the latchhandle 8 is at least approximately 65% of the height HW of the back wall5. In one example the length LL of the latch handle 8 is approximatelyat least approximately 21 millimeters, for example approximately 38millimeters, or for example between approximately 10 and 50 millimeters.For example the latch can be approximately 1.4 millimeters thick nearits thinnest section and approximately 3.5 millimeters at a latch bump13.

The example latch handle 8 has a substantially straight, rectangularshape. The example latch handle 8 slants away from the connected wall 5.For example the latch handle 8 has an angle α of between approximately 5and approximately 50 degrees with respect to the wall 5, for examplebetween approximately 10 and approximately 30 degrees, for examplebetween approximately 15 and 25 degrees, for example approximately 20degrees.

In the illustrated example the latch handle 8 includes a latch bump 13.In another example the latch handle 8 includes a latch slot. Such latchbump 13 or slot includes a latch surface 12 for engaging a correspondinglatch feature of a receiving bay for retaining the container 1 in thereceiving bay.

In the illustrated example the latch bump 13 is a protrusion thatprotrudes out of the outer surface of the latch handle 8, for example inthe shape of a hook. The latch bump 13 includes a ramp 14 to allowsliding over a corresponding latch feature of the receiving bay thatpushes the latch handle 8 inwards. The latch surface 12 extends at thetop of the latch bump 13. Then the latch surface 12 is to engage thelatch feature of the receiving bay to retain the fluid container 1 inthe receiving bay. In latched condition a fluidic seal between thefluidic interconnects of the container 1 and fluid dispensing device isto be preserved.

The fluid container 1 includes a live hinge 15 to hinge the latch handle8 with respect to the respective container wall 5. The live hinge 15connects the latch handle 8 to the wall 5. The live hinge 15 maintainsthe latch handle 8 in under an angle α. For example the live hinge 15includes a resilient structure to hinge the latch handle 8 back towardsthe initial inclination, if a force that pushes the latch handle 8inwards is released. In one example, the latch handle 8 hinges inwardstowards the back wall 5 when the ramp 14 slides over a correspondinglatch feature a receiving bay, during insertion. The latch handle 8 isto hinge outwards under said resilient force after the latch surface 12passes the corresponding latch feature so that the latch surface 12 isretained by the latch feature.

In certain circumstances, the fluid container 1 is stored in a packagingduring relatively long periods of time, for example during storage,shipment and/or on the shelves. For example, it may be that thecontainer 1 is stored in a vertical orientation wherein the back wall 5and the latch handle 8 are on the downside of the container 1 (see FIG.3). In such scenario the latch handle 8 may press against a bottom 30 ofthe packaging. Examples of filled container 1 weights are betweenapproximately 15 and 300 grams, depending on the size of the container 1and the fluid quantity it contains. Hence, when stored in theillustrated vertical orientation, the weight of the container 1 pusheson the latch handle 8 and exerts a torque T about the live hinge 15.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1-3 the fluid container 1 includes a rib 9.The rib 9 is located over the hinge 15 and connected to the latch handle8 and the wall 5. The rib 9 may be defined by an elevated bump. Indifferent examples the rib 9 can have the shape of a ridge, wedge,pyramid, ramp, bridge, etc. The rib 9 spans over the hinge 15 and isconnected to the wall 5 and the latch handle 8. The rib 9 forms anintegral part of the back wall 5 and latch handle 8.

For example the rib 9 is to inhibit creep near the hinge 15. Forexample, the rib 9 may help in retaining the latch handle 8 under theinitial angle α and also maintain the resilient properties of the hinge15, over time. In further examples the rib 9 facilitates a properlatching force and/or resilience of the latch handle 8. In addition tothe above, the rib 9 allows for easy and sufficient hinging of the latchhandle 8.

In one example a height HR of the rib 9, spanning from the bottom of thelive hinge 15 to a highest point of the rib 9, is less than 50% or lessthan 25% or less than 15% of the length LL of the latch handle 8. Infurther examples the height HR of the rib 9 is at least 3%, or at least5% of the length LL of the latch handle 8, as measured from the livehinge 15 upwards. For the example the height HR of the rib 9 is betweenapproximately 0.5 and 15 millimeter, or between approximately 0.5 and 10millimeter, as measured from the bottom of the hinge 15 up to thehighest point of the rib 9.

In one example the rib 9 extends over the middle of the hinge 15. In oneexample the rib 9 spans over less than 50% of a width W of the hinge 15,for example over approximately 5% to 40% of the width W of the hinge 15.

In one example the rib 9 has a symmetrical shape or mirror symmetricalshape wherein a plane of symmetry S of the rib 9 extends over the middleof the hinge 15. In one example the plane of symmetry S of the rib 9 isperpendicular to the back wall 5 and parallel to the side walls 6, 7 (asseen in FIG. 2).

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a part 20 of the fluid container 1 ofFIGS. 1 and 2. The part 20 includes the wall 5, the live hinge 15, thelatch handle 8 and the rib 9. The latch handle 8 and rib 9 are connectednear a bottom of the wall 5 through the hinge 15. The part 20 furtherincludes the rib 9 that spans between the handle 8 and the wall 5 andover the hinge 15. The features and relationships between the featuresare the same as explained with reference to FIGS. 1-3. In one examplethe part 20 also includes the top wall 4 and can be defined as generallyL-shaped.

In one example the part 20 is a single cast, monolithic shape. The part20 may be molded, for example injection molded, in one injection actionwithin a single mold. In one example the part 20 is to connect to edgesof the front, bottom and/or side walls 2, 3, 6, 7 of the container 1 toclose the inner volume 10, for example by welding, for example after acapillary medium has been disposed inside. In further examples the topwall 4 and/or part 20 include vent holes, vent labyrinths, spacers,further rib structures, labels, seals, etc.

FIGS. 5-7 illustrate a first example of a part 120 of a fluid container.FIGS. 8-10 illustrate a second example of a part 220 of a fluidcontainer. The respective parts 120, 220 illustrated in FIGS. 5-7 and8-10, respectively, are to be connected to walls of a fluid containerfor enclosing an inner volume, similar to the principle explained abovewith reference to FIG. 4. The example parts 120, 220 have generallydifferent ribs 109, 209 that will each be described into more detailbelow.

In the example of FIGS. 5-7, the part 120 has a rib 109. The part 120includes a back wall 105 and a latch handle 108 protruding from the backwall 105. The latch handle 108 includes a latch bump 113. A live hinge108 is to hinge the latch handle 108 with respect to the back wall 105.The live hinge 108 may be a film hinge 108. The live hinge 108 spansover almost the entire width of the back wall 105, for example over morethan 80% of the back wall 105. The rib 109 lies over at least a middleportion of the live hinge 115.

The rib 109 can be generally pyramid-shaped. For example thepyramid-shape has four triangular surfaces including a base. Tworib-surfaces 131, 132 are exposed, while a third surface lies againstthe wall back 105 and a fourth surface lies on the latch handle 108. Therib 109 has a top ridge 130 spanning between the latch handle 108 andthe wall 105, defined by an intersection line of the two rib-surfaces131, 132. The top ridge 130 and the rib-surfaces 131, 132 converge intoa point P1 on the latch handle 8. For example the top ridge 130 runsalong an upwards sloping line, starting from an intersection point P2 onthe back wall 105 and terminating in the intersection point P1 on thelatch handle 108. The intersection point P1 on the latch handle 108 ishigher than the intersection point P2 on the back wall 105. The tworib-surfaces 131, 132 form ramps that intersect on the top ridge 130 andthat have borders on the back wall 105 and latch handle 108. The rib 109may have rounded borders near the latch handle 108 and the back wall105. Also the top ridge 130 may be rounded.

The rib 109 has a two-symmetrical shape wherein a plane of symmetry S1of the rib 109 extends over the middle of the hinge 115, the plane ofsymmetry S1 being perpendicular to the back wall 105 and the top wall104. The top ridge 130 lies in the plane of symmetry S1 of the rib 109.A cross section of the rib 109 formed by a plane of symmetry S1 may havea generally triangular shape (FIG. 6).

In one example the rib 109 spans over approximately 5 to 50% or 5% to30% of the width of the live hinge 115. For example the height HR of therib 109 spans over less than 50% or less than 30% of the length LL ofthe latch handle 108, as measured from a hinge axis of the live hinge115 upwards, as seen from a direction perpendicular to the back wall105.

The example part 220 of FIGS. 8-10 is similar to the part 120 of FIGS.5-7 except for the rib 209. In FIGS. 8-10 the rib 209 is generally rampshaped. The rib 209 of FIGS. 8-10 has a top surface 230 spanning betweenthe latch handle 208 and the back wall 205, and rib side-surfaces 231,232 on each side of the top surface 230, that border on the top surface230 and the back wall 205 and the latch handle 208. The top surface 230includes a substantially flat portion 234 that slopes downwards from thelatch handle 208 to the back wall 205, up to an upwards curved portion235 near the back wall 105. The curved portion 235 terminates in theback wall 205 over an intersection line P4 parallel to the live hinge215.

The side surfaces 231, 232 and the top surface 230 converge into a pointP3 on the latch handle 208. The intersection point P3 on the latchhandle 208 is higher than the intersection line P4 on the back wall 205.The rib 209 may have rounded borders.

The rib 209 has a two-symmetrical shape wherein a plane of symmetry S2of the rib 209 extends over the middle of the hinge 215, the plane ofsymmetry S2 being perpendicular to the back wall 205 and a top wall 204.The intersection point P3 on the latch handle 208 lies in the plane ofsymmetry S2. A cross section of the rib 209 formed by a plane ofsymmetry S2 may have a generally triangular shape (FIG. 10), for examplewith the exception of curved portions near the back wall 205 and/orlatch handle 208.

For example the rib 209 spans over approximately 5% to 50% or 5% to 30%of the width of the live hinge 215. For example the height HR of the rib209 spans over less than 50% or less than 30% of the length LL of thelatch handle 208, as measured from a hinge axis of the live hinge 215upwards, as seen from a direction perpendicular to the back wall 205.For example the height HR of the rib 209 is at least approximately 3% orat least approximately 5% or at least approximately 10% of the height ofthe latch handle 208.

In one aspect of this disclosure, a fluid container 1 is provided. Thefluid container 1 includes walls 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 104, 105, 204, 205that enclose an inner volume 10. The fluid container 1 includes a latchhandle 8 that slants away from one of the walls 5, 105, 205. The fluidcontainer 1 includes a live hinge 15, 115, 215 that connects the latchhandle 8, 108, 208 to the wall 5, 105, 205. The fluid container 1includes a rib 9, 109, 209 over the hinge 15, 115, 215 that is connectedto the latch handle 8, 108, 208 and the wall 5, 105, 205.

For example, the latch handle 8, 108, 208, wall 5, 105, 205, hinge 15,115, 215 and rib 9, 109, 209 are defined by one monolithic shape. Forexample, the rib 9, 109, 209 spans over less than 50% of the width W ofthe hinge 15, 115, 215. For example, the rib 9, 109, 209 spans over themiddle of the hinge 15, 115, 215. For example, a plane of symmetry S,S1, S2 of the rib 9, 109, 209 is perpendicular to a back wall 5, 105,205 and parallel to a side wall 6, 7. For example, a cross section ofthe rib 9, 109, 209 in the plane of symmetry S, S1, S2 has asubstantially triangular shape, a point P1, P3 of the triangular shapeterminating on the latch 108, 208.

In one example, the rib 109 is substantially pyramid-shaped, of the kindhaving four triangular surfaces including a base, one of the surfaceslying on the wall 105 and another surface lying on the latch handle 108.For example the rib 109 has a top ridge 130 spanning between the latchhandle 108 and the wall 105. For example, the rib top ridge 130 issubstantially straight and slopes upwards towards and terminating in apoint P1 on the latch handle 108.

In another example, the rib 209 has a ramp-shaped top surface 230spanning between the latch handle 208 and the wall 205. For example nearthe wall 205 the top surface 230 curves upwards, forming a curvedportion 235, and terminates in the wall 205 along a line P4. Forexample, the top surface 230 converges into a point P3 on the latchhandle 208.

In further examples, the length LL of the latch handle 8, 108, 208 ismore than 50% of the height HW of the wall 5, 105, 205. In again furtherexamples, the latch handle 8, 108, 208 has an extended, rectangularshape, and in an unlatched condition the latch handle 8, 108, 208 has arelatively stable inclination α of between approximately 5 degrees andapproximately 50 degrees with respect to the wall 5, 105, 205.

In one aspect of this disclosure, a monolithic fluid container part 20,120, 220 is provided. The part 20, 120, 220 includes a wall 5, 105, 205.A hingable latch handle 8, 108, 208 is connected near a bottom of thewall 5, 105, 205 through a live hinge 15, 115, 215. The latch handle 8,108, 208 slants away from the wall 5, 105, 205. A rib 9, 109, 209 liesover the hinge 15, 115, 215 spanning from the latch handle 8, 108, 208to the wall 5, 105, 205 to inhibit creep near the live hinge 15, 115,215 caused by a container weight F during storage.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fluid container comprising a number of wallsenclosing an inner volume, a latch handle slanting away from a back wallamong the number of walls, a live hinge connecting the latch handle tothe wall, and a rib over the hinge connected to the latch handle and thewall; wherein the rib comprises a ramp-shaped top surface spanningbetween the latch handle and the back wall.
 2. The fluid container ofclaim 1 wherein the latch handle, back wall, hinge and rib are definedby one monolithic shape.
 3. The fluid container of claim 1 wherein therib spans over less than 50% of the width of the hinge.
 4. The fluidcontainer of claim 1 wherein the rib spans over the middle of the hinge.5. The fluid container of claim 1 wherein a plane of symmetry of the ribis perpendicular to the back wall and parallel to a side wall of thecontainer.
 6. The fluid container of claim 5 wherein the rib furthercomprises an upwardly curved portion coupling the rib to the back wall.7. The fluid container of claim 1 wherein the rib is substantiallypyramid-shaped, of the kind having four triangular surfaces including abase, one of the surfaces lying on the back wall and another surfacelying on the latch handle.
 8. The fluid container of claim 1 wherein therib has a number of ridges spanning between the latch handle and theback wall.
 9. The fluid container of claim 1 wherein the number ofridges are substantially straight, slope upwards and away from the hingeand back wall towards the latch handle, and terminates in a point on thelatch handle.
 10. The fluid container of claim 1 wherein near the backwall the ramp-shaped top surface curves upwards and terminates in theback wall.
 11. The fluid container of claim 1 wherein the ramp-shapedtop surface and a number of side surfaces of the rib converge into apoint on the latch handle.
 12. The fluid container of claim 1 whereinthe length of the latch handle is more than 50% of the height of theback wall.
 13. The fluid container of claim 1 wherein the latch handlehas an extended, rectangular shape, and in an unlatched condition thelatch handle has a relatively stable inclination of betweenapproximately 5 and approximately 50 degrees with respect to the backwall.
 14. A monolithic fluid container part comprising a wall, ahingable latch handle connected near a bottom of the wall through a livehinge, the latch handle slanting away from the wall, and a rib lyingover the hinge spanning from the latch handle to the wall; wherein therib comprises a ramp-shaped top surface spanning between the latchhandle and the wall; and wherein the ram-shaped top surface and a numberof side surfaces of the rib converge at a point on the latch handle.